Since I started teaching in 2015, I've wondered what it means to be a schoolteacher in a time of crisis. I wrote an MFA thesis about it. Two chapters of my thesis won 2nd Place in The Sewanee Review's 2025 Nonfiction Contest, and are now available to read. thesewaneereview.com/articles/tra...

I'm concerned about certain aspects of "alternative grading" discourse. I'll be writing about those concerns over the next few weeks. open.substack.com/pub/spencerl...

I used to love teaching "Their Eyes Were Watching God." I got to interview @marcusluther.bsky.social about teaching it today. Teachers: Keep this novel alive in classrooms, and check out Marcus's *amazing* teaching resources in this interview. open.substack.com/pub/spencerl...

I learned a lot about balancing writing and teaching over the past four years. Here are my top 3 tips. open.substack.com/pub/spencerl...

can we get a new rap with nani in gracie mansion though

The @weilsociety.bsky.social is hosting its annual colloquy at Texas A&M in April '26, as well as an online conference. This group was invaluable for me during my MFA program and thesis-writing process as I read work by and about Simone Weil. Register, and as Weil would say, attend.

I really enjoyed this interview with Adam Current! A Mango-Shaped Space is a fantastic novel and Adam’s new cohort of eighth graders are lucky to read it this year! open.substack.com/pub/spencerl...

My MFA program, the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, is hiring a new Director. Check it out. www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?...

I’m a proponent of teaching lots of classics *and* lots of contemporary literature to high school students. In case you’re looking for some contemporary (or at least mid-late 20th century) additions to your high school curriculum, check out this list! open.substack.com/pub/spencerl...

I finished my MFA! Quite excited about spending a *fourth* year at the University of Iowa as a Visiting Assistant Professor of English! I'll be teaching Introduction to Rhetoric and Advanced Nonfiction Writing to English majors! Looking forward to Year 11!

I wrote an academic paper about the Trojan Horse Affair's fantastic model of journalism. It's out now in Radio Journal. More journalists should take notes from @brihreed.bsky.social and Hamza Syed. intellectdiscover.com/content/jour...

What are the best book stores in Salt Lake City?

Extremely grateful to be recognized in this way by @weilsociety.bsky.social, especially after writing about Weil as a schoolteacher for the past three years. Thank you so much!

“Tragedy implies more optimism in its author than does comedy…its final result ought to be the reinforcement of the onlooker’s brightest opinions of the human animal...it is curious, although edifying, that the plays we revere, century after century, are the tragedies.” The Book Talks, Vol. 4.

Loved this interview with @anniesand.bsky.social, on Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning." The Book Talks, Vol. 3 on Substack now.

"I get the sense from both sides of the political spectrum that I should perhaps be keeping my head down and teaching a "safe" class...Many parents would rather their children be credentialed than educated today." Read my interview with Peter Shull now, on teaching Morrison's "Song of Solomon."

Told my boyfriend about my Lent challenge for this year (not wearing headphones except for in the gym) and he got sassy

Check out The Book Talks, Vol. 1: My interview with 5th grade teacher Adrian Neibauer on teaching the 1975 children's classic, "Tuck Everlasting." open.substack.com/pub/spencerl...

My dad gets really confused by the term "creative nonfiction" and his brain trips it to "non-creative fiction"

Just going to throw out that "I don't want to" in response to "encouragement" to "synthesize AI use into your classroom and pedagogy" is a perfectly fine response

Honored to be featured this week on University of Iowa's 5Q interview series! writinguniversity.org/news-archive...

I disagree with a lot of this but it makes compelling points near the end. Makes for a powerful rebuttal to the Postman, Carr, and now Hayes claims. Worth a read (and a teach if you have anything related on your syllabus). www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

In case anyone was interested in Simone Weil’s thoughts on how to do the next four years

On sabbatical this semester. To stay connected with fellow educators and celebrate their work, I am launching "The Book Talks," an interview series in which I will talk to teachers about their favorite books to teach. Join me! open.substack.com/pub/spencerl...

I’m thrilled to share that part of my MFA thesis was selected by John Jeremiah Sullivan as the runner-up essay in the 2024 nonfiction contest @ The Sewanee Review! thesewaneereview.com/contest

Greeting a cold, cold America again today. Thanks for the weekend, PR.